The reasons can vary: people about to get elective surgery through the private system require a negative test. The rise of private testing has raised concerns about the risks of relying on a negative test to gather with loved ones. Maegan Timmins, a structural engineer, and her wife, a healthcare worker, are considering paying for a private COVID-19 test before they meet with her Timmins's parents. "If people are doing private testing, it means that they are not doing public testing. In a statement Friday, Health Canada said Canadians who "meet the public health testing and screening criteria" have access free of charge, while "private payment for other COVID-19 testing may be appropriate, provided private pay testing does not adversely impact public health testing capacity."

Source: CBC News November 21, 2020 09:00 UTC